Working from home advice

[Chives]

It's been a while since I was there, but I'm sure not too much has changed. What do you want to know? Ask away.

A little bit about your background/career/degree (did you speak any languages pre-FCO?) before you joined would be great. What did you work on whilst there? (I appreciate you may not be able to say too much..) and what foreign postings did you have?

Thanks

 

[Erich Kriegler]

Matched betting. Can make about 2k a month doing that.

 

[robfosters]

A little bit about your background/career/degree (did you speak any languages pre-FCO?) before you joined would be great. What did you work on whilst there? (I appreciate you may not be able to say too much..) and what foreign postings did you have?

Thanks

OK, my schooling was rubbish as I missed an entire year due to ill health. I had two GCSE grade C's in English and Media Studies. The job I applied for was the lowest level of Home civil service, known as grade A1. Fast streamers go in at C4.

The entry was tough, I had to undergo exams and interviews and there were 500 applicants for 10 jobs!. Luckily I made it.

I spoke no other languages, still don't, and started out in the Near east and North Africa section as an admin assistant. Within a year I was promoted to A2 level and worked for a year in the office of Douglas Alexander, minister for Europe. I then took up a job as an assistant desk officer for Spain in the Consular division. It was there when I had my Spain jolly. 3 weeks travelling around Alicante, Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Barcelona reviewing the performance and facilities of the consular departments. After nearly 2 years there, I passed the B3 exam and took up a job looking after certain budgets in the resource management unit of consular. Halfway through my job there, I had the opportunity to work in the consular section of BE Paris for 6 weeks to cover a paternity leave. That was when I was transferred to the diplomatic side. On my return, I took up another B3 job in the press office. After 2 years, I applied for a C4 job on temporary promotion. It was a crap job in the Export licensing department, dealing with export licenses for weapons and technology from the likes of BAE and Westland. No other C4 wanted it. After a while there, my line manager recommended me for permanent promotion and it was accepted making me an official C4. That is the grade that fast streamers start at. My next posting would have been abroad, but sadly, my health issues hit me hard during that period and I was forced to leave on ill health grounds. I was utterly devastated.

As you can see, I never had a permanent posting abroad, but I visited a lot of places for short trips. In 2003, they was trying to get to do an admin stint in Iraq, but I told them in no uncertain terms to **** off.

Highlights were being sent a letter from Colonel Gaddafi, meeting Vladimir Putin and Tony Blair, and bizarrely, having a good old chinwag with Arsene Wenger.

 

[Diddums]

I know plenty of people who have studied with the OU. Most got nothing out of it. I'd rather do a course in an occupation like accountancy or web design.

This isn't cool to hear, I'm starting a degree in computers and IT in October

 

[robfosters]

This isn't cool to hear, I'm starting a degree in computers and IT in October

Dont let me put you off. It's an amazing feather in your cap, it's just the graduate market is so saturated, that it didn't appear to do them any favours in landing a job. An old school friend got an OU degree in social sciences and he works in JD Sports!

The degree is only part of it as well. It's up to you how well you sell yourself.

 

[CREATIVE!11]

Always thought about trying to go into IT/coding, I know it's possible to get really good self taught because amount of resources on the net

but how would you prove to a company / job you are actually good? Like any skill if you sink in time hardcore can get really good.

 

[Chives]

OK, my schooling was rubbish as I missed an entire year due to ill health. I had two GCSE grade C's in English and Media Studies. The job I applied for was the lowest level of Home civil service, known as grade A1. Fast streamers go in at C4.

The entry was tough, I had to undergo exams and interviews and there were 500 applicants for 10 jobs!. Luckily I made it.

I spoke no other languages, still don't, and started out in the Near east and North Africa section as an admin assistant. Within a year I was promoted to A2 level and worked for a year in the office of Douglas Alexander, minister for Europe. I then took up a job as an assistant desk officer for Spain in the Consular division. It was there when I had my Spain jolly. 3 weeks travelling around Alicante, Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Barcelona reviewing the performance and facilities of the consular departments. After nearly 2 years there, I passed the B3 exam and took up a job looking after certain budgets in the resource management unit of consular. Halfway through my job there, I had the opportunity to work in the consular section of BE Paris for 6 weeks to cover a paternity leave. That was when I was transferred to the diplomatic side. On my return, I took up another B3 job in the press office. After 2 years, I applied for a C4 job on temporary promotion. It was a crap job in the Export licensing department, dealing with export licenses for weapons and technology from the likes of BAE and Westland. No other C4 wanted it. After a while there, my line manager recommended me for permanent promotion and it was accepted making me an official C4. That is the grade that fast streamers start at. My next posting would have been abroad, but sadly, my health issues hit me hard during that period and I was forced to leave on ill health grounds. I was utterly devastated.

As you can see, I never had a permanent posting abroad, but I visited a lot of places for short trips. In 2003, they was trying to get to do an admin stint in Iraq, but I told them in no uncertain terms to **** off.

Highlights were being sent a letter from Colonel Gaddafi, meeting Vladimir Putin and Tony Blair, and bizarrely, having a good old chinwag with Arsene Wenger.

That was an interesting read, thanks for taking the time. Do you think you'd have stayed in the FCO long term had you not had your health issues?

Sorry to hear about your situation, I really hope you get something suitable sorted

 

[robfosters]

That was an interesting read, thanks for taking the time. Do you think you'd have stayed in the FCO long term had you not had your health issues?

Sorry to hear about your situation, I really hope you get something suitable sorted

Without a shadow of a doubt. I would have probably been at least a D6 by now. I probably would have ended up as an ambassador. Most can do if they put in the years. The benefits are fantastic. 30 days holiday after 10 years service.

 

[Diddums]

Rob check your emails mate

 

[godinman]

Fair question. It is dangerous for me to go out alone as I suffer from blackouts, loss of balance and breathlessness when walking. Also, I can work for 6 hours, but every hour, I need to lie flat for 5 minutes or so to rest my back as I have a curved spine.

Fair enough!

I say if you've got an interest in web design then try your best to go down that route, it's so much easier to stay motivated within a career if after a project you can say to yourself, 'that's ****ing awesome'. Best of luck.

 

[robfosters]

Fair enough!

I say if you've got an interest in web design then try your best to go down that route, it's so much easier to stay motivated within a career if after a project you can say to yourself, 'that's ****ing awesome'. Best of luck.

Yep. It would be fun and enjoyable (hopefully). Plus it would be easy for me to build up a portfolio as I know quite a few people who would jump at the chance of having a pro website done for free or a small fee for their business.

 

[robfosters]

Welling....I hope you're a Charlton fan

Nope. I've lived in South London since I was 10. Prior to that I lived 2 streets away from Highbury. I'll let you guess the rest

 

[JonJ678]

Another vote for coding here. You're bright? Awesome, that's basically the only requirement. I'd start with SICP or reading posts here, but either would be a sharp introduction.

Oh? I just finished an academic university position. Programming, involving lots of maths and physics essentially. Want to find a nice programming job now . Preferably one involving C++, graphics (I like it because of the maths) and CUDA.

C++ and maths is a more difficult combination to sell than it should be. Fortran and maths is even worse though. I'm even thinking of changing to Javascript! Still, working with C++ daily has some good points once such a role is located.

but how would you prove to a company / job you are actually good?

That one's easy. Github. Pick a project with a bug list, fix a bug, offer a patch, get shot down, repeat until success. Can also start your own project - doesn't have to be especially useful in order to constitute a visible portfolio.

 

[itchy]

Gimp mask and cam4 the only way to be sure!

J/king Are you any good with computers? That's a good little earner if you diversify into laptop and mobile phones also.

What I have found is you need to be multi skilled in the best aptitude of your ability.

 

[Scotty123]

C++ and maths is a more difficult combination to sell than it should be. Fortran and maths is even worse though. I'm even thinking of changing to Javascript! Still, working with C++ daily has some good points once such a role is located.

Ha yes I am glad I wasn't doing fortran. Really only good for number crunching .

I'm looking at games programming for C++. There's a lot of science in there, from the graphics (vectors, matrices, light equations in shaders) to the physics. Knowing how to do real time physics (simplification of the equations and methods used) etc. It interests me both from a hobby point of view and scientific.

I know stuff beyond C++ (C#, mySQL, php to name a few), but I like the more complex and challenging stuff mentally .

 

[the_r_sole]

mitchell and webb's advice

Spoiler

 

[LordSplodge]

This isn't cool to hear, I'm starting a degree in computers and IT in October

Most people quit the OU because they have to study at home rather than the more traditional university method. Look how many people quit 'normal' university! Put the effort in and you'll get loads out of the OU.

 

[mxoagentjohnson]

Sorry to ask but what type of disability?

I've made extra cash at home during my reclusive life making websites and art for people and companys, but never fulltime.

 

[Caged]

Nope. I've lived in South London since I was 10. Prior to that I lived 2 streets away from Highbury. I'll let you guess the rest

The correct decision

 

[tlrBeta]

Apart from the above already covered, a new prospect that is already use by likes of RAC / AA is people actually handling motor rescue calls from home. This is currently being looked into by some other well known breakdwon assistance companies

The idea being that, they can ramp up support for busy periods / bad weather etc. I don't see why that couldn't extend to full time hours if it's cost beneficial for all.

I'm not completely sure of the third party name that handles them but let me know if you're interested and I'll do some more digging through some of my colleagues at work.

Might not be the best fit but it might help move things along.